Creating impact in research for sustainability
Research must extend beyond academic circles to drive tangible change in a world increasingly defined by complex global challenges. Aligning research efforts with these goals is both beneficial and necessary to ensure a sustainable future. In an attempt to make such efforts actionable and measurable, the United Nations established their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, offering a comprehensive framework of 17 interconnected objectives designed to address urgent global issues, including climate change, poverty, health inequities, and educational disparities: “A shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future”[1].
“Leave no one behind” – this is the ethos of the SDG framework, and one that according to Dr. Sanae Okamoto, Senior Behavioural Scientist at the United Nations University, should lead the strategic direction of present and future research, ensuring that its impact is felt across societies, regions, and generations. In this discussion with Dr. Okamoto, we explore the importance of generating impact through research.
Aligning efforts with the SDGs ensures that research contributes to a sustainable future. Institutions, in turn, must foster an environment that encourages collaboration, interdisciplinarity, and external stakeholder engagement. Dr. Okamoto emphasises that a tangible step toward achieving greater impact lies in the support provided to researchers by university leaders. By investing in media relations, digital literacy, and social media training, institutions can empower researchers to share their findings with broader audiences. Recognising and rewarding achievements beyond high-impact journal publications, such as contributions to SDG-driven initiatives, can further motivate researchers to pursue projects that offer tangible societal benefits.
Impactful research: A definition and imperative
Research is deemed impactful when it informs policy, drives societal change, and offers practical solutions to pressing issues. Dr Okamoto defines impactful research as the pursuit of projects that lead to policy shifts and real-world applications. Her view emphasises the importance of collaboration that transcends traditional academic boundaries.
For research to have a profound effect, it must be aligned with global frameworks such as the SDGs. They provide researchers with a “common language” to demonstrate the relevance of their work in tackling societal challenges.
Dr. Sanae Okamoto, Senior Behavioural Scientist at the United Nations University
It enables further comparison among research results and for the potential measurement of the transferability of initiatives. Moreover, by focusing on the SDGs, researchers can increase the visibility and significance of their projects, engage diverse stakeholders, and unlock funding for socially responsible initiatives.
The role of SDGs in research
The SDGs offer more than just aspirational targets; they serve as a roadmap for sustainable development, urging researchers and institutions, as well as industry, to align their efforts with global priorities. The interconnected nature of these goals and human needs, allows research to address multiple objectives simultaneously. For example, a project on climate resilience can also benefit health, education, and economic growth, multiplying its impact and benefitting several target groups. As Dr. Okamoto highlights, impactful research arises when you embrace interdisciplinarity and engage a wide range of stakeholders to address challenges holistically. And, in fact, all stakeholders, from civil society groups and the environment, can benefit from research and its applications.
Challenges in leveraging SDGs for research impact
While the SDGs provide a robust framework for guiding research toward global priorities, incorporating them into academic work presents several challenges.
- Long-term SDG goals versus short-term project cycles: A primary obstacle is the perceived disconnect between the broad, long-term nature of the SDGs and the narrower focus of individual research projects. Researchers might feel their contributions are too distant or indirect to make a significant impact.
- Difficulty measuring outcomes: Measuring the outcomes of SDG-aligned research also poses difficulties. Evaluating complex results such as poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, or educational equity requires long-term assessments, making it challenging to capture immediate effects.
- Balancing local relevance with global objectives: The balancing of local relevance with global objectives is a key concern. For example, a project promoting plastic recycling in economically disadvantaged communities may struggle to gain traction if local populations must prioritise more urgent needs, such as food security.
Opportunities and tools for advancing research impact
Despite these challenges, a variety of opportunities and tools are available to researchers seeking to align their work with the SDGs. Digital platforms like Web of Science and Elsevier provide mapping tools that connect research outputs with specific SDG targets. These tools help researchers visualise their contributions and allow institutions to promote their impact to funding bodies and policymakers.
Institutions can also enhance research impact by fostering a culture of collaboration and interdisciplinarity. Establishing multidisciplinary research centres focused on sustainability, providing resources for SDG-aligned projects, and encouraging engagement with local policymakers and communities are vital strategies.
The educational dimension of impactful research
Education is central to embedding sustainability into research practices. Introducing SDG-related content in curricula not only raises awareness among students but also equips them with the tools to address global challenges. For example, Dr. Okamoto recalls how projects that ask students to propose initiatives addressing specific SDGs, such as installing solar panels in their communities, can encourage creativity and critical thinking while highlighting the interconnectedness of global issues. Educational institutions can, and should, also engage younger audiences, such as high school students, by offering simple exercises that link their ideas to SDG targets, or wider sustainability-related practices. These activities deepen understanding of the environment, society and the broader topic of sustainability, whilst inspiring a sense of responsibility and agency in tackling societal challenges.
The future of research for sustainability
With the 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs rapidly approaching, the need for impactful research is more urgent than ever. The future of research must be inclusive, open, and digital, harnessing technologies like artificial intelligence to spur innovation and discovery. At the same time, it must navigate complex ethical and governance challenges to ensure transparency and accountability.
As Dr. Okamoto aptly concludes, impactful research cannot thrive in isolation and the way forward demands a collective commitment to tackling societal challenges and a readiness to embrace new frameworks and methodologies. By using the SDGs as a guiding framework, researchers and institutions can bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, transforming academic insights into actionable solutions that drive sustainable progress.
Reference
[1] United Nations. (n.d.). The 17 goals. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved January 9, 2025, from https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Ready for more?
Explore the challenges universities face when integrating sustainability into their curricula, research, and operations, and discover practical steps than can help you overcome them at our podcast episode The role of universities in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, with Victoria Galan-Muros, Chief of Research and Analysis at the UNESCO International Institute of Higher Education.
In our infographic series, Building the pipeline for EDI leadership in universities, we are delving into the challenges that under-represented groups face to access leadership roles at universities, as well as offer some practical suggestions on how to overcome them.
Luca Barbera (author) is a Junior Project Officer at UIIN. His work encompasses a broad spectrum of research topics, including sustainability, deep tech, engagement practices for universities and academics, with a particular emphasis on the valorisation of results.
